Lean Manufacturing Specialist

Sopra Steria•Kinston, NC

4h•$90,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a results-driven Lean Manufacturing Specialist to support operational excellence and industrial transformation initiatives within manufacturing environments. In this role, you will lead continuous improvement efforts, optimize production processes, reduce waste, and enhance productivity, quality, and overall operational performance through the application of Lean Manufacturing principles and best practices. Working closely with production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams, you will drive sustainable improvements that support business objectives and strengthen operational efficiency.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, or Industrial Engineering.
Proven track record of leading process improvement and operational transformation initiatives.
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
Lean Manufacturing certification.
Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Hands-on experience with Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen, 5S, Kanban, Pull Systems, and SMED.
Experience with root cause analysis, waste reduction, process optimization, and performance improvement.
Proficiency in KPI development, performance measurement, and data analysis.
Strong change management, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional leadership skills.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and facilitation abilities.
Results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering measurable business outcomes.
Fluent in English.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the aerospace industry.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
French language skills.

Responsibilities

Conduct manufacturing assessments and performance analyses to identify improvement opportunities.
Identify process inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and sources of waste across production operations.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing methodologies.
Facilitate Kaizen events, root cause analysis sessions, and problem-solving workshops.
Perform Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and end-to-end process analysis.
Design and implement optimized workflows, production processes, and work standards.
Improve plant layouts, material flow, and operational efficiency.
Support the implementation of pull systems, Kanban, visual management, and other Lean tools.
Define, track, and analyze operational KPIs.
Drive improvements in productivity, quality, delivery performance, and cost efficiency.
Reduce cycle times, work-in-progress (WIP), downtime, and production waste.
Support Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement initiatives.
Train, coach, and mentor teams on Lean principles and continuous improvement practices.
Foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Facilitate stakeholder workshops, improvement reviews, and cross-functional collaboration.
Support organizational transformation and the successful adoption of new processes and best practices.